Colombia may dispense environmental licenses for solar and wind power projects of less than 100 MW amid efforts to accelerate the country’s energy transition.
According to Ministry of Mines and Energy Locally, the proposal is part of a broader plan by President Gustavo Petro to have 6 GW of renewable energy capacity by the end of 2026.
According to the Ministry, currently, more than half of Colombia's renewable energy projects have been halted by departmental licensing authorities, known as CARs.
According to current regulations, only projects with a capacity of less than 10 MW can be built without an environmental license in the country.
Projects of 10 to 50 MW are the responsibility of the CARs, while those with power greater than 50 MW must have licenses approved by ANLA (National Environmental Licensing Authority).
The latest data from power system operator XM shows that Colombia’s total installed capacity is 20,8 GW, including 13,2 GW from hydropower plants; 6,3 GW from thermal power plants and just 1,3 GW from solar power.
Largest solar park in Colombia
In December of last year, Colombia inaugurated the largest solar park in its history, with 820,6 solar s distributed across 1.110 hectares – the equivalent of 2 football fields.
The new space has a capacity of 370 MW, enough to supply 1,5 million people, and is located between the municipalities of Ponedera and Sabanalarga.
According to the Colombian government, the park will produce approximately 1.000 GW per year – energy equivalent to the annual consumption of the city of Barranquilla, which is the country's capital.
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